DeMatha Running Back Makes Big Ten Pick

DeMatha running back Marcus Coker has committed to play for Iowa. Coker, who is 6 feet and 230 pounds, had narrowed his choices to the Hawkeyes, Minnesota and Wake Forest. He had never been to either of the Big Ten schools -- or even their respective states -- before a recent trip with his mother during which they drove 20-plus hours to visit.

"I just like the history of their backs," Coker added. "They like big backs, big lines in the Big Ten. The Big Ten is my style of running game."

"I'd never even heard of Iowa [previously]. Those are two of the last places I thought I would be."

Of course, during the summer one Minneapolis newspaper reported that Coker had committed to the Golden Gophers. Not true then, not true now.

"That was pretty random," he said.

Said DeMatha Coach Bill McGregor: "He's incredibly strong and a pretty good athlete. He's the first once since I've been at DeMatha to go to Iowa. They've done a pretty good job recruiting out of this area. They've got two kids out of Gilman going to Iowa. ... So many schools are coming into the D.C. area to recruit kids and they have a legitimate shot at getting the kids."